it has been argued that sexual equality is the most important criterion of that which we know as Civilization. - E.E. "Doc" Smith

They did not ask him why he wanted that data. They may have wondered at his temerity in daring to scout alone a fortress whose strength had kept at bay the massed Patrol forces of the sector, but if they did so they kept their thoughts well screened. For this was a Gray Lensman, and very evidently a super–powered individual, even of that select group whose weakest members were powerful indeed.

Life force. I would have lots of that, of course." She did not blush, but Kit did. "Life force" was a pitifully inadequate term indeed for that which Civilization's only Lensman–mother had in such measure, but they both knew what it was.

There has always been, and will always be, the problem of surviving the experience that any trained expert can handle ... when there hasn't been any first survivor to become an expert.